Deep cleaning your teeth and cleaning around all the small parts of your braces can be difficult. Proper cleaning of your braces will ensure that you avoid staining, tooth decay, and cavities. Thoroughly cleaning braces will save you time on your orthodontic treatment and unnecessary dental procedures. Bailey Orthodontics wants to help our patients properly clean braces while working with our office. Below are some tips that can make cleaning around braces much more manageable.
1- Flossing
We know flossing can be difficult to use when cleaning braces. Getting to all the nooks and crannies around your wires, hardware, and brackets can be tricky. Using a floss threader or special orthodontic flossing sticks can make flossing much easier. Water flossers are a great addition to flossing. They use a small stream of water to help blast out food particles that can lead to cavities or gum irritation.
2- ADA Accepted Toothpaste
Using the right toothpaste for your teeth, with or without braces, can help improve your enamel and the appearance of your teeth. The American Dental Association approves many kinds of toothpaste that have the right ingredients to help protect your teeth and aid in cleaning braces. Choosing a toothpaste with or without fluoride, one that you enjoy the taste of, and one that will help improve the shine of your teeth are all choices that those with braces need to take into consideration.
3- Dental Proxy Brush
Using a special brush to clean between wires and small parts can be extremely helpful when dealing with braces. A proxy brush, commonly called a Christmas Tree brush, is just one tool that can help in thoroughly cleaning braces because it is designed to go where your regular toothbrush can’t. Just push the tip into the hard to reach areas around the brackets and rinse the bristles with warm water after cleaning each tooth.
4- Rubber-Tip Tooth Picks
This dental tool is pretty common in dental offices and can be used to clean the gum line and the tooth. It helps to remove stubborn food particles that may be left behind. This is a great option if you are not able to floss your teeth right away after eating. Use the rubber-tipped toothpick very carefully to remove food particles and follow with a full rinse of the mouth.
5- Mouthwash
Using mouthwash can help rinse and clean the areas of teeth next to and around your brackets that may need extra attention. We can not see all the bacteria that may be lurking in our mouths, so using mouthwash with fluoride is a great way to kill anything that may be stuck around your brackets. Thoroughly cleaning braces with mouthwash will help prevent discoloration spots, promote gum health and help prevent bad breath.
6- Gargle Salt Water
Your orthodontist may ask you to do this right after you get your braces to help with the swelling. Gargling salt water will help reduce inflammation and keep your teeth clean. This practice may not need to be implemented in your daily routine, but especially right after you get braces and brushing or flossing might be painful, it can help prevent bacteria build-up.
7- Eat Braces Safe Foods
When you first get your braces, your orthodontist will talk to you about what foods are best to eat. Eating leafy greens, sugary candies, or popcorn could lead to more small particles getting wedged next to your brackets and wires. Avoiding foods like these may not be ideal, but if you want cleaning your braces to be easier, it may be best to skip them.
Braces With Bailey Orthodontics
Bailey Orthodontics has recently opened a new location in Farmington, UT. This means that we can better serve more patients and help them on their road to a better smile. Our entire staff is dedicated to making patients feel comfortable and understood while receiving care from us. We are efficient with your time and money because we know that fitting orthodontic treatment into your schedule is difficult. When you visit our office, we are timely and always greet you with a smile. Schedule an appointment with our office today!
